Ergonomics is the design of items that are most comfortable and easy on the body. Having an ergonomically correct design means that the design is comfortable to use for the body for long periods of time and different movements.
Having an ergonomically correct design often means that things need to be adjustable. Just like the video "Human Scale Ergonomics" they had to make the computer screen adjustable, the chair adjustable and the keyboard adjustable. With ergonomic design it is important to realize that everyone has a different body size and shape.
Ergonomics is meant to be design that fits the human body and all the different movements that the body has to make in that environment. It must understand the movements of humans and understand the amount of hours one might spend sitting in a certain chair or typing on a keyboard.
The Gilbreth system of motion analysis was Frank B and Lillian Gilberth's study of motion in the workplace. They sought to eliminate unnecessary movements in the workplace.
Frederick Taylor expanded off the 'Gilbreth system of motion analysis' and studied the motions in the workplace. He challenged that workers who had to move unnecessary amounts in the workplace couldn't work as long.
Henry Ford then developed the conveyor belt which allowed for the work to come to the workers instead of the other way around. He took Frederick Taylor's advice but then exploited it by making the conveyor belt move at an extremely high rate which led to union issues because of heavy surveillance.
Four basic principles of McDonaldization:
Efficiency- the most time/cost effective way to complete a task
Predictability- uniform services so you are always able to know what's next
Control- standardize both technology and employees
Calculability- should be able to measure success by sales
LAB #9
There are 5 tools and methods of integrated "service design" described in the slideshow. Ethnography, which is a way to discover a users habits or customs. Customer journey map, which serves to provide information about the customers use of a product. Service blueprint, which gives an idea about the services that are needed and ideal for certain customers. Ideation where designers allow the users to experiment with a design first hand to figure out what works which leads to service prototype where the scenario is duplicated and mimicked.
Sylvia is under the belief that service design is design that is made for customers to get the most use. She believes that a design should always remain customer oriented and that the design be beneficial to as many customers as possible while meeting all of their needs.
I think this method would be useful in our final design projects for this course. We need to design something that works for the customer and allows the customer to get the utmost use out of it.
Also, this design method would be great in designing anything for the other 90% of the world. By using Sylvia's method we would be able to design things that accommodate the designer as well as the consumer and in that way making design more user friendly.
LAB #8
Natalie Jeremijenko realized that creating products that provide a certain shock value for people can make more of an impact and cause people to think about things a little bit more than they would. It allows for what Natalie calls "social transformation" in which people begin to actively change the way in which they are living in order to make healthier decisions for our environment. An example of this is the walking tadpole that Natalie developed. It was such a weird and unique invention that it caught the eyes of society and allowed them to witness first hand what kind of dangers were happening in our environment.
I looked at how Gelato was made. After all the ingredients are delivered by truck, there is a dairy base made which allows the makers to add different flavours. Then there is something called a "batch freezer" which both freezes and churns the gelato which helps to keep it cold and prepares it for packaging.
I also looked at how guitars were made which was pretty interesting. The wood was imported and they make sure that they use the least amount of wood to make a sturdy product. The front and back are laser cut and held by braces to make them stronger. The sides take the longest because the wood has to be cured and put in a frame that allows it to curve the way it does. Then they make the neck using a small amount of wood and add strings to complete the guitar.
I think it is important that we know how stuff is made because we can better understand the product and what it takes to get to our shelves. In terms of design, the knowledge of how things are made can allow for changes that may make the process easier or more environmentally friendly.
LAB #7
Bill Moggridge defines collective design by stating that it is a collaboration of different skills in order to make something the best it can be. The brainstorming of many different people with different skill sets can lead to a stronger design and a more well-rounded design that can appeal to mass amounts of people, instead of just one particular group.
An example of this is the American Red Cross. Moggridge notes that instead of just asking people to donate, the Red Cross decided to have people write down/speak about why they give. This approach made donating blood seem so much more personal and therefore pulled at the heart strings of many people, allowing for more donations.
Another example would be the "cubical" design. Cubical's were designed to make the average worker feel more at home and less like a small fish in a big pond. Cubicals can be customized with various items such as picture frames/stress balls that can make the worker feel at ease and feel as though they are working from a more commonly used environment, such as a home office.
Google Docs is a website that is based solely on collaborative learning. It works a lot like this very website that I am posting on. Google Docs allows people to share documents online and therefore combine their knowledge. It is designed with a simple layout that allows different age groups of different technological know-how to easily navigate the site.
There is a shared login for the group that allows you to access your documents everywhere. They also designed easy to read and use icons and have included a simple help tutorial in order to teach people how to get the full capacity out of the google docs website.
For users, Google Docs allows for easy collaboration between a group. You could be in the same class or work in two different offices half way around the world yet Google Docs allows users to combine their documents, spreadsheets, etc... all into one place. This allows users to collaborate easier and more efficiently leaving more time for brainstorming and idea generation.
LAB #6
Toxin-Free Glue
I really like this design innovation mostly because glue is something so practical that is used in everyday life and if we can hold things together without using toxins, that would benefit everyone. I feel like we don't even notice how pieces of furniture or anything gets glued together and not a lot of people are aware of the toxins that they are breathing in off of that glue, not to mention the workers that work with it. I think a toxin-free glue could benefit everyone and it's not something that you have to make aesthetically pleasing, it just has to work.
Bone Furniture
As an aesthetically pleasing design, bone furniture really caught my eye. I love how using very little pieces of material can make an apparatus so sturdy. I think it's very intelligent how the designer chose to mimic the way our bones grow over time to support us, in order to design furniture that is convenient and less wasteful. I think that this is very inspiring to designers everywhere because it displays how you don't need copious amounts of materials in order to create something beautiful.
Sonar-Enabled Cane
I find the sonar-enabled cane to be a very valuable design for the seeing impaired. I think that it could really benefit a great deal of the population, no matter how impaired one's vision may be. The idea of echolocation itself is amazing and having something so lightweight and portable could change someone's life for the better. I can really appreciate designs that are not meant for just the majority of the population, but also focus on a minority. I think that is very important to consider when designing in today's society.
LAB #5
BODYSTORMING:
Bodystorming is a different and a more creative way to generate ideas. Bodystorming makes it easier to generate ideas by physically participating in activities. This way of thinking has led to more useful and practical inventions. By requiring users to act out their ideas, bodystorming has become a new way to generate ideas and create new products or ways of living.
Bodystorming is able to empathize with the users. In the video we watched, we saw people having to complete tasks while disabled in some manner. This allows those creating or developing a product to really empathize with the consumer. This is what sets bodystorming apart from other ways of thinking. Creators are able to see what their product needs to be accessible to various users. Bodystorming is very much user-centered, concentrating on developing new ways of living for people with different abilities.
Finally, bodystorming is a way that design can become all-inclusive. It no longer looks directly at the financial aspect of a product but also focuses on the design and accessibility of the product. Bodystorming aids to develop products that focus on physical issues that could go wrong with the design. By literally putting yourself in someone else's shoes, this way of thinking allows people to be more innovative for the needs of todays people.
LAB #4
EXTRACTION:
Extraction is the way that we, as humans, are trashing the planet. We are taking natural resources and using them in astronomical amounts making it impossible to the resources to replenish themselves. We are cutting down trees and destroying fisheries and are therefore destroying our ecosystem for the extraction of materials used to mass produce items that we don't need.
PRODUCTION:
The materials that we extracted now move to the production stage where we combine them with chemicals. These chemicals and toxins go into our products and can cause great harm to our health. At this point, we are putting ourselves at huge health risks by knowingly exposing ourselves to toxic chemicals. The factory workers are most at risk. There are alternatives to production but chemicals are the quickest and easiest, but still the most dangerous.
DISTRIBUTION:
The companies that are producing these toxic items are distributing them to our homes. That said, we are now ingesting toxins. More than that, we have begun buying into an industry that doesn't pay its workers fair wages. Without fair wages, companies are able to keep the costs down and distribute them at extremely low costs to us, the consumers.
CONSUMPTION:
As explained in the short film, we have become a consumer nation. As consumers we are responsible for keeping these companies afloat. We have perceived obsolescence where we throw away things that are still useful in order to buy the newer and better item. This perceived obsolescence keeps us buying newer and better things which is keeping these unethical companies in business.
DISPOSAL:
We are throwing away more garbage than ever before. This is because of our consumption habits. We have so many things that are over-packaged and can never be recycled. We have begun to fill landfills to the brink and expand by moving our garbage to other places in the world. We have chosen to ignore this garbage issue and just move it to where we cannot see it and therefore don't have to care.
ANOTHER WAY:
Finally, we are attempting to find ways to deal with our over-consumption and production problems. We are beginning to understand the concept of re-using and recycling items. It's time to demand a Zero Waste policy. It is time that we really look at the toxins we are ingesting and realize that their is a better way to treat workers and make products that are not only effective, but healthier for our environment.
externalized costs: the true costs of the products are not recorded (eg. the transportation, the workers health care etc...)
perceived obsolescence: convinces users to throw away stuff that is perfectly useful by changing the way the item looks
planned obsolescence: "designed for the dump" making stuff meant to be sent to the trash asap so that they can make more items and sell those
materials throughput: the products that we mine, transport, steal are obsolete within 6 months
national happiness: our national happiness is the lowest it's ever been. It was the highest in the 1950's which was the explosion of the consumption era. We have more stuff and less time for the things that truly make us happy.
upstream waste: 70 garbage cans of waste are made upstream in order for us to put that one garbage can on the curb
closed loop production: seeks to eliminate toxic inputs and transforms the current linear system into a closed loop
zero waste: a goal where all products contain parts that can be reused or recycled and used again
green chemistry: protects the environment by creating new chemical processes that don't pollute in the first place
LAB #3
1. Jan Chipchase, when he worked for Nokia, traveled around the world taking pictures and talking with people. He did these things in order to help Nokia figure out places where they could target their cellphone products. By Jan talking to various people around the world he is able to decipher why exactly people place their need for a cell phone/communication before their need for other basic necessities.
Jan visited places such as bowling alleys or the slums of Mumbai and not only observes but also makes connections with the people who live there. His connections lead him to new discoveries about telecommunications and the way people value it. In mumbai he notices that the family he spoke to needed to put their cellular device into a plastic bag and hang it on the wall in order to keep it safe from the harsh weather. When he gathered his information he was now privy to the fact that the people in the slums of Mumbai could use a cellphone that was waterproof, or that came with a hook so they could easily hang it up.
The two names Jan has been given is a "human-behavior researcher" and a "user anthropologist". While these names sound broad and almost as if his job is a made-up title, Jan proves that his job is vital in order to remain innovative and on top of the worldly marketplace. Jan uses his resources to observe and figure out how telecommunications can impact everyone in the world, not just the first world market. He observes that no matter where he goes, telecommunications is a huge aspect of every day life and there are ways to customize products in order to fit the needs of different people in various nations.
2. Keep in Touch: If a family member had to move away to another country or city and someone was unable to make the trip out to that place to see them, a cell phone would allow them to keep in touch with the family member at a relatively low cost. They would be able to have conversations and check up on each other any time they would like.
To Run a Business: Now that micro-financing has allowed for people from the third world country to start up their individual businesses, a cell phone could greatly benefit their business. If an internet connection is low and not able to get e-mails out, a cell phone acts as a quick and easy way for a business owner to get in touch with customers or even suppliers.
Banking: With a cellphone, users are able to participate in mobil banking as well as money transfers. Money transfers in particular can help if a family member has moved somewhere to work and would like to send a portion of their earnings to aid family members living elsewhere. A cellphone becomes an easy way to exchange money.
Finding Family: Many countries are affected by flooding or natural disasters. WIth cellphones families are able to locate misplaced family members and make sure that they are alive and well. A cell phone would enable people to keep in constant contact, especially in cases of emergency or dire need.
LAB #2
1. While looking through all the different countries and the innovations that have been made to aid the people who inhabit it, I would have to say the innovation that most interests me is the Bamboo Treadle Pump found under Asia. The thing that captured my attention the most was that this pump was able to help farmers access groundwater during the dry season. In Asia it is very easy for farmers to hit a dry period and for this period to last a long while. During this time it becomes a burden to maintain the crops and to keep them from diminishing in the drought. The Bamboo Treadle Pump seeks to relieve this burden by allowing farmers to access the groundwater in order to keep their crops alive and healthy and therefore able to support their families. The picture also amazed me because this pump is not too elaborate and it seems as though it is simple enough to be operated by one person as opposed to farmers having to employ their entire family to get water. It has generated $1.4 billion net farmer income in Bangladesh which only makes me wonder how many farmers were able to feed their families through the toughest farming season. I think this pump is truly innovative and is an asset to any working farmer attempting to support a family.
2. I think I am most interested in housing for the other 90% of the world. I think that shelter is a huge issue as well as school and community buildings. I came across the Moneymaker Block Press and it really intrigued me. I immediately began thinking about all the ways that building and structure can become accessible for any community. Being able to build solid structures, or even mobile structures, can change the way a community lives for the better. For instance, if it became easier to set up schools and community centers, it would also become easier for children to get an education and therefore begin to re-shape the community they live in for the better.
LAB #1
As a major designer and innovator for the Apple corporation, Jonathan Ives has coined "undesign" to describe what he attempts to achieve with each product he develops for Apple. Part of the undesign definition means that the designer is creating a product that is so technologically advanced and yet so simple for the consumer to use. Jonathan Ives uses the example of the indicator light on the Mac Book. The indicator light is something that took a lot of innovative thinking and hard work to perfect and yet on the Mac Book the consumer takes the indicator light for granted, not realizing that it is such an important aspect until it is not there anymore. Undesign also deals with the concept of the visual appeal of a product. Apple is known for its designs that capture the eye of the consumer and are so visually appealing that sometimes it is the defining factor when it comes to purchasing the product. The simple act of making something like the ipod nano available in a variety of colours greatly appealed to an audience. Jonathan Ives has created products that are so simple to use. Ive's himself stated that Mac products have always been so simple to use that you didn't even have to think about it when using them. Undesign means putting innovation and dedication into a product that consumers can use with ease and feel good about what they are using.
CCT333 WIKI
LAB #10
Ergonomics is the design of items that are most comfortable and easy on the body. Having an ergonomically correct design means that the design is comfortable to use for the body for long periods of time and different movements.
Having an ergonomically correct design often means that things need to be adjustable. Just like the video "Human Scale Ergonomics" they had to make the computer screen adjustable, the chair adjustable and the keyboard adjustable. With ergonomic design it is important to realize that everyone has a different body size and shape.
Ergonomics is meant to be design that fits the human body and all the different movements that the body has to make in that environment. It must understand the movements of humans and understand the amount of hours one might spend sitting in a certain chair or typing on a keyboard.
The Gilbreth system of motion analysis was Frank B and Lillian Gilberth's study of motion in the workplace. They sought to eliminate unnecessary movements in the workplace.
Frederick Taylor expanded off the 'Gilbreth system of motion analysis' and studied the motions in the workplace. He challenged that workers who had to move unnecessary amounts in the workplace couldn't work as long.
Henry Ford then developed the conveyor belt which allowed for the work to come to the workers instead of the other way around. He took Frederick Taylor's advice but then exploited it by making the conveyor belt move at an extremely high rate which led to union issues because of heavy surveillance.
Four basic principles of McDonaldization:
Efficiency- the most time/cost effective way to complete a task
Predictability- uniform services so you are always able to know what's next
Control- standardize both technology and employees
Calculability- should be able to measure success by sales
LAB #9
There are 5 tools and methods of integrated "service design" described in the slideshow. Ethnography, which is a way to discover a users habits or customs. Customer journey map, which serves to provide information about the customers use of a product. Service blueprint, which gives an idea about the services that are needed and ideal for certain customers. Ideation where designers allow the users to experiment with a design first hand to figure out what works which leads to service prototype where the scenario is duplicated and mimicked.
Sylvia is under the belief that service design is design that is made for customers to get the most use. She believes that a design should always remain customer oriented and that the design be beneficial to as many customers as possible while meeting all of their needs.
I think this method would be useful in our final design projects for this course. We need to design something that works for the customer and allows the customer to get the utmost use out of it.
Also, this design method would be great in designing anything for the other 90% of the world. By using Sylvia's method we would be able to design things that accommodate the designer as well as the consumer and in that way making design more user friendly.
LAB #8
Natalie Jeremijenko realized that creating products that provide a certain shock value for people can make more of an impact and cause people to think about things a little bit more than they would. It allows for what Natalie calls "social transformation" in which people begin to actively change the way in which they are living in order to make healthier decisions for our environment. An example of this is the walking tadpole that Natalie developed. It was such a weird and unique invention that it caught the eyes of society and allowed them to witness first hand what kind of dangers were happening in our environment.
I looked at how Gelato was made. After all the ingredients are delivered by truck, there is a dairy base made which allows the makers to add different flavours. Then there is something called a "batch freezer" which both freezes and churns the gelato which helps to keep it cold and prepares it for packaging.
I also looked at how guitars were made which was pretty interesting. The wood was imported and they make sure that they use the least amount of wood to make a sturdy product. The front and back are laser cut and held by braces to make them stronger. The sides take the longest because the wood has to be cured and put in a frame that allows it to curve the way it does. Then they make the neck using a small amount of wood and add strings to complete the guitar.
I think it is important that we know how stuff is made because we can better understand the product and what it takes to get to our shelves. In terms of design, the knowledge of how things are made can allow for changes that may make the process easier or more environmentally friendly.
LAB #7
Bill Moggridge defines collective design by stating that it is a collaboration of different skills in order to make something the best it can be. The brainstorming of many different people with different skill sets can lead to a stronger design and a more well-rounded design that can appeal to mass amounts of people, instead of just one particular group.
An example of this is the American Red Cross. Moggridge notes that instead of just asking people to donate, the Red Cross decided to have people write down/speak about why they give. This approach made donating blood seem so much more personal and therefore pulled at the heart strings of many people, allowing for more donations.
Another example would be the "cubical" design. Cubical's were designed to make the average worker feel more at home and less like a small fish in a big pond. Cubicals can be customized with various items such as picture frames/stress balls that can make the worker feel at ease and feel as though they are working from a more commonly used environment, such as a home office.
http://docs.google.com
Google Docs is a website that is based solely on collaborative learning. It works a lot like this very website that I am posting on. Google Docs allows people to share documents online and therefore combine their knowledge. It is designed with a simple layout that allows different age groups of different technological know-how to easily navigate the site.
There is a shared login for the group that allows you to access your documents everywhere. They also designed easy to read and use icons and have included a simple help tutorial in order to teach people how to get the full capacity out of the google docs website.
For users, Google Docs allows for easy collaboration between a group. You could be in the same class or work in two different offices half way around the world yet Google Docs allows users to combine their documents, spreadsheets, etc... all into one place. This allows users to collaborate easier and more efficiently leaving more time for brainstorming and idea generation.
LAB #6
Toxin-Free Glue
I really like this design innovation mostly because glue is something so practical that is used in everyday life and if we can hold things together without using toxins, that would benefit everyone. I feel like we don't even notice how pieces of furniture or anything gets glued together and not a lot of people are aware of the toxins that they are breathing in off of that glue, not to mention the workers that work with it. I think a toxin-free glue could benefit everyone and it's not something that you have to make aesthetically pleasing, it just has to work.
Bone Furniture
As an aesthetically pleasing design, bone furniture really caught my eye. I love how using very little pieces of material can make an apparatus so sturdy. I think it's very intelligent how the designer chose to mimic the way our bones grow over time to support us, in order to design furniture that is convenient and less wasteful. I think that this is very inspiring to designers everywhere because it displays how you don't need copious amounts of materials in order to create something beautiful.
Sonar-Enabled Cane
I find the sonar-enabled cane to be a very valuable design for the seeing impaired. I think that it could really benefit a great deal of the population, no matter how impaired one's vision may be. The idea of echolocation itself is amazing and having something so lightweight and portable could change someone's life for the better. I can really appreciate designs that are not meant for just the majority of the population, but also focus on a minority. I think that is very important to consider when designing in today's society.
LAB #5
BODYSTORMING:
Bodystorming is a different and a more creative way to generate ideas. Bodystorming makes it easier to generate ideas by physically participating in activities. This way of thinking has led to more useful and practical inventions. By requiring users to act out their ideas, bodystorming has become a new way to generate ideas and create new products or ways of living.
Bodystorming is able to empathize with the users. In the video we watched, we saw people having to complete tasks while disabled in some manner. This allows those creating or developing a product to really empathize with the consumer. This is what sets bodystorming apart from other ways of thinking. Creators are able to see what their product needs to be accessible to various users. Bodystorming is very much user-centered, concentrating on developing new ways of living for people with different abilities.
Finally, bodystorming is a way that design can become all-inclusive. It no longer looks directly at the financial aspect of a product but also focuses on the design and accessibility of the product. Bodystorming aids to develop products that focus on physical issues that could go wrong with the design. By literally putting yourself in someone else's shoes, this way of thinking allows people to be more innovative for the needs of todays people.
LAB #4
EXTRACTION:
Extraction is the way that we, as humans, are trashing the planet. We are taking natural resources and using them in astronomical amounts making it impossible to the resources to replenish themselves. We are cutting down trees and destroying fisheries and are therefore destroying our ecosystem for the extraction of materials used to mass produce items that we don't need.
PRODUCTION:
The materials that we extracted now move to the production stage where we combine them with chemicals. These chemicals and toxins go into our products and can cause great harm to our health. At this point, we are putting ourselves at huge health risks by knowingly exposing ourselves to toxic chemicals. The factory workers are most at risk. There are alternatives to production but chemicals are the quickest and easiest, but still the most dangerous.
DISTRIBUTION:
The companies that are producing these toxic items are distributing them to our homes. That said, we are now ingesting toxins. More than that, we have begun buying into an industry that doesn't pay its workers fair wages. Without fair wages, companies are able to keep the costs down and distribute them at extremely low costs to us, the consumers.
CONSUMPTION:
As explained in the short film, we have become a consumer nation. As consumers we are responsible for keeping these companies afloat. We have perceived obsolescence where we throw away things that are still useful in order to buy the newer and better item. This perceived obsolescence keeps us buying newer and better things which is keeping these unethical companies in business.
DISPOSAL:
We are throwing away more garbage than ever before. This is because of our consumption habits. We have so many things that are over-packaged and can never be recycled. We have begun to fill landfills to the brink and expand by moving our garbage to other places in the world. We have chosen to ignore this garbage issue and just move it to where we cannot see it and therefore don't have to care.
ANOTHER WAY:
Finally, we are attempting to find ways to deal with our over-consumption and production problems. We are beginning to understand the concept of re-using and recycling items. It's time to demand a Zero Waste policy. It is time that we really look at the toxins we are ingesting and realize that their is a better way to treat workers and make products that are not only effective, but healthier for our environment.
externalized costs: the true costs of the products are not recorded (eg. the transportation, the workers health care etc...)
perceived obsolescence: convinces users to throw away stuff that is perfectly useful by changing the way the item looks
planned obsolescence: "designed for the dump" making stuff meant to be sent to the trash asap so that they can make more items and sell those
materials throughput: the products that we mine, transport, steal are obsolete within 6 months
national happiness: our national happiness is the lowest it's ever been. It was the highest in the 1950's which was the explosion of the consumption era. We have more stuff and less time for the things that truly make us happy.
upstream waste: 70 garbage cans of waste are made upstream in order for us to put that one garbage can on the curb
closed loop production: seeks to eliminate toxic inputs and transforms the current linear system into a closed loop
zero waste: a goal where all products contain parts that can be reused or recycled and used again
green chemistry: protects the environment by creating new chemical processes that don't pollute in the first place
LAB #3
1. Jan Chipchase, when he worked for Nokia, traveled around the world taking pictures and talking with people. He did these things in order to help Nokia figure out places where they could target their cellphone products. By Jan talking to various people around the world he is able to decipher why exactly people place their need for a cell phone/communication before their need for other basic necessities.
Jan visited places such as bowling alleys or the slums of Mumbai and not only observes but also makes connections with the people who live there. His connections lead him to new discoveries about telecommunications and the way people value it. In mumbai he notices that the family he spoke to needed to put their cellular device into a plastic bag and hang it on the wall in order to keep it safe from the harsh weather. When he gathered his information he was now privy to the fact that the people in the slums of Mumbai could use a cellphone that was waterproof, or that came with a hook so they could easily hang it up.
The two names Jan has been given is a "human-behavior researcher" and a "user anthropologist". While these names sound broad and almost as if his job is a made-up title, Jan proves that his job is vital in order to remain innovative and on top of the worldly marketplace. Jan uses his resources to observe and figure out how telecommunications can impact everyone in the world, not just the first world market. He observes that no matter where he goes, telecommunications is a huge aspect of every day life and there are ways to customize products in order to fit the needs of different people in various nations.
2. Keep in Touch: If a family member had to move away to another country or city and someone was unable to make the trip out to that place to see them, a cell phone would allow them to keep in touch with the family member at a relatively low cost. They would be able to have conversations and check up on each other any time they would like.
To Run a Business: Now that micro-financing has allowed for people from the third world country to start up their individual businesses, a cell phone could greatly benefit their business. If an internet connection is low and not able to get e-mails out, a cell phone acts as a quick and easy way for a business owner to get in touch with customers or even suppliers.
Banking: With a cellphone, users are able to participate in mobil banking as well as money transfers. Money transfers in particular can help if a family member has moved somewhere to work and would like to send a portion of their earnings to aid family members living elsewhere. A cellphone becomes an easy way to exchange money.
Finding Family: Many countries are affected by flooding or natural disasters. WIth cellphones families are able to locate misplaced family members and make sure that they are alive and well. A cell phone would enable people to keep in constant contact, especially in cases of emergency or dire need.
LAB #2
1. While looking through all the different countries and the innovations that have been made to aid the people who inhabit it, I would have to say the innovation that most interests me is the Bamboo Treadle Pump found under Asia.
The thing that captured my attention the most was that this pump was able to help farmers access groundwater during the dry season. In Asia it is very easy for farmers to hit a dry period and for this period to last a long while. During this time it becomes a burden to maintain the crops and to keep them from diminishing in the drought. The Bamboo Treadle Pump seeks to relieve this burden by allowing farmers to access the groundwater in order to keep their crops alive and healthy and therefore able to support their families. The picture also amazed me because this pump is not too elaborate and it seems as though it is simple enough to be operated by one person as opposed to farmers having to employ their entire family to get water. It has generated $1.4 billion net farmer income in Bangladesh which only makes me wonder how many farmers were able to feed their families through the toughest farming season. I think this pump is truly innovative and is an asset to any working farmer attempting to support a family.
2. I think I am most interested in housing for the other 90% of the world. I think that shelter is a huge issue as well as school and community buildings. I came across the Moneymaker Block Press and it really intrigued me. I immediately began thinking about all the ways that building and structure can become accessible for any community. Being able to build solid structures, or even mobile structures, can change the way a community lives for the better.
For instance, if it became easier to set up schools and community centers, it would also become easier for children to get an education and therefore begin to re-shape the community they live in for the better.
LAB #1
As a major designer and innovator for the Apple corporation, Jonathan Ives has coined "undesign" to describe what he attempts to achieve with each product he develops for Apple. Part of the undesign definition means that the designer is creating a product that is so technologically advanced and yet so simple for the consumer to use. Jonathan Ives uses the example of the indicator light on the Mac Book. The indicator light is something that took a lot of innovative thinking and hard work to perfect and yet on the Mac Book the consumer takes the indicator light for granted, not realizing that it is such an important aspect until it is not there anymore. Undesign also deals with the concept of the visual appeal of a product. Apple is known for its designs that capture the eye of the consumer and are so visually appealing that sometimes it is the defining factor when it comes to purchasing the product. The simple act of making something like the ipod nano available in a variety of colours greatly appealed to an audience. Jonathan Ives has created products that are so simple to use. Ive's himself stated that Mac products have always been so simple to use that you didn't even have to think about it when using them. Undesign means putting innovation and dedication into a product that consumers can use with ease and feel good about what they are using.